COVID-19: Live Performance Industry

Rebuild & Recovery Package

Investment in arts and entertainment industry
Total package =
Direct driver of economic activity, jobs and
$345m cultural tourism recovery

What's needed to restart and rebuild …

Workers
• Extend JobKeeper for an additional 6 months (Oct 2020 – Mar 2021) – for those businesses that continue to be
impacted by COVID-19 during reactivation phase
• Guarantee a 6 month phase out period for JobKeeper (Apr – Sept 2021) once venues are open and as
productions/events reactivate, allowing the industry to move to increased operational capacity
• Extend JobSeeker for an additional 6 months – for those (e.g. freelancers, casuals) who can demonstrate they are
unemployed because of loss of industry work due to COVID-19

Investment ($170m)
• Business Reactivation Fund ($90m) (July 2020 – Dec 2021) – to enable businesses to create jobs and to:
 ($50m) invest capital to restart and market productions and tours (theatre producers, music and multi-art form
festivals, promoters)
 ($10m) ensure supply chain viability through service providers (e.g. crewing companies and production houses)
($10m) ensure COVID safe compliance (e.g. staff training, WHS measures and tools, hand sanitising stations, etc)
 ($20m) Australian Music Recovery Fund to catalyse Australian music nationally and ensure sustainability of venues
and music businesses
• Community Engagement Fund ($25m) (Oct 2020 – June 2021) – support regional venues to engage local communities
and bring patrons back to their venues – including development and/or restaging work, marketing support and a
guarantee against loss for key tours
• Tax incentives (from 1 July 2021) – extend tax incentives to pre-production costs for live productions (commercial
theatre and subsidised companies) and live music venues
• Arts and Entertainment Loan Scheme (2 years) – Low interest loans to enable co-investment in commercial product
(e.g. musicals, theatre, music festivals, service providers)
• Waive subclass 408 (entertainment activities) visa fees ($5m) for 24 months after international travel bans are lifted
• Events Contingency Reserve ($50m) – emergency support funding if venues are closed and productions/festivals are
cancelled/postponed due to another outbreak of COVID-19

Innovation ($30m)
• Digital Innovation Fund ($20m) (2 years) – funding to support creation of digital content, drive new business
opportunities (marketing, education programs linked to school curricula) and extend audience reach (e.g. education
programs, regional, people with disability, etc); First Nations digital platform
• Technology Innovation Fund ($10m) (6 months) – to enable companies to develop and implement new COVIDSafe
technology solutions and business practices (e.g. reconfiguring ticketing systems)

Australia Council ($70m)

• Business stabilisation and recovery grant ($20m) – capital grants for business continuity and recovery
• Reserves incentive scheme ($30m) – matched funding; support rebuilding and future resilience of major performing
arts companies
• Extend Resilience Fund ($10m) – for small to medium companies, groups and individual artists to create work and jobs
• Sector Development Fund ($10m) – for content creation, audience development, capacity building

Consumers ($75m)
• Marketing campaign ($15m) – launch a national marketing campaign to give consumers confidence to attend live
events; part of broader Cultural Tourism Strategy
• ‘See It Live’ e-voucher ($55m) (Sept 2020 – June 2021) – e-vouchers to stimulate Australians to attend live events
• ‘See it Live’ international travel incentive program ($5m) (Jan 2021 – June 2022) – entertainment vouchers to attract
international visitors to attend live events in Australia